About the Battle of Yashima
The Battle of Yashima was fought in 1185 (19th day of the 2nd month, Genryaku 2) at Yashima, Sanuki Province. Crossing to Yashima through a storm, Yoshitsune drives the Taira out to sea with fire. The famous scene of Nasu no Yoichi shooting the fan from the masthead.
- Year
- 118519th day of the 2nd month, Genryaku 2
- Place
- Yashima, Sanuki Province
- Era
- Late Heian period
The two armies
Taira (Heike) Commander-in-chiefTaira no Munemori 13,2004 units 
Minamoto (Genji) Commander-in-chiefMinamoto no Yoshitsune 3704 units Troop strengthTotal of the units shown in 3D
Main camp 4,000Fought 3,000Did not fight 6,200
Fought 370
Taira (Heike)By troop strength
- Taira Fleet 平家の軍船 Did not fight 6,000
- Taira no Munemori 平宗盛 Commander-in-chief 4,000
-
Taira no Noritsune 平教経 3,000 - The Fan Boat 扇の小舟 Did not fight 200
Minamoto (Genji)By troop strength
- Minamoto no Yoshitsune 源義経 Commander-in-chief 150
- Satō Tsugunobu 佐藤継信 80
- Ise Saburō 伊勢三郎 80
-
Nasu no Yoichi 那須与一 60
Portraits are public-domain images from Wikimedia Commons (some are later imagined depictions).
How the battle unfoldedTimes follow the 3D clock
- 6:00 AMCh. 1
StormThrough the Storm
The 2nd month of Genryaku 2. Yoshitsune lands at Katsuura in Awa with only five boats and 150 riders. While everyone hesitated to put to sea in the storm, he turned it to his advantage. A crossing of two days by sea is made in a single night.
- 8:00 AMCh. 2
FireBurning the Houses
The Taira guarding the palace at Yashima believe the Minamoto will come from the sea. But Yoshitsune appears from the land behind them and sets fire to the houses. Taking the rising smoke for a great army, the Taira abandon the palace in haste and flee to the ships with the child emperor Antoku.
- 10:00 AMCh. 3
RaidStorming the Palace
Before his tiny numbers can be discovered, Yoshitsune bursts into the palace without hesitation. Realising how few the Minamoto are, the Taira turn back from the ships and a fierce fight begins at the water's edge. Satō Tsugunobu is killed shielding Yoshitsune.
- 12:00 PMCh. 4
BowNoritsune's Pursuit: The Dropped Bow
The great archer Noritsune aims at Yoshitsune alone. At the water's edge Yoshitsune drops his bow into the sea, and rather than let the enemy pick it up and mock "the Minamoto commander's weak arm," he risks his life to retrieve it: the famous episode of the dropped bow.
- 3:00 PMCh. 5
FanNasu no Yoichi Shoots the Fan
At dusk the fighting pauses. A small Taira boat raises a crimson fan on a pole and challenges: "Shoot this." A rocking boat, a swaying target. The young warrior chosen by the Minamoto, Nasu no Yoichi, rides his horse into the waves and lets fly: the arrow pierces the pivot of the fan.
- 4:30 PMCh. 6
HikoshimaTo the Last Sea
Friend and foe alike cheer the marvellous shot. But Yashima can no longer be held. The Taira abandon their base and withdraw to Hikoshima in Nagato. The final stage that will settle the Genpei War, Dan-no-ura, is now close at hand.
In Ultra detailBattle Pass
The same scene in the standard quality and in Ultra detail. Drag the line to compare, and switch between "Wide" and "Close-up". Ultra detail adds rugged mountains, forests and rocks in 3D, rippling seas and rivers, rows in the fields and soldiers as figures. Chapter 1 of every battle can be watched in Ultra detail without the Battle Pass.
FAQ
What was the Battle of Yashima?
Crossing to Yashima through a storm, Yoshitsune drives the Taira out to sea with fire. The famous scene of Nasu no Yoichi shooting the fan from the masthead.
When and where did the Battle of Yashima take place?
It took place in 1185 at Yashima, Sanuki Province (19th day of the 2nd month, Genryaku 2).
Who fought in the Battle of Yashima?
Minamoto no Yoshitsune of the Minamoto (Genji), Taira no Munemori of the Taira (Heike) were among the commanders.
Can I watch the Battle of Yashima in 3D?
Yes. This page plays a free three-minute 3D animated overview showing the deployments, the movements of each army and how the battle was decided.